An outstanding year for Shea Reardon has seen her named Junior Sportsperson of the Year and also take the Supreme Award at last nights Youthtown Taupo District Sports Awards.

Sport Waikato Taupo district coordinator Christine Belfit said the award highlighted Shea’s success in triathlons both nationally and internationally.

“It’s very exciting to see a young sportsperson like Shea achieving great things on the world stage,” Christine said.

“She is definitely one to watch and we’re all really proud of her.”

Shea was this year selected to be part of the New Zealand triathlon high performance squad. She placed 18th in her age group at the triathlon world championships in Australia and 7th in the elite section of the Oceania games triathlon.

In other results, it was two in a row for Shanelle Barrett who took Referee/umpire of the year for the second year running.

“It’s been a pretty busy year for Shanelle officiating at triathlons in New Zealand and overseas,” said Christine.

The awards evening, held at the Great Lake Centre, are a highlight on the district calendar with local sportspeople acknowledged for outstanding achievements over the past year.

72 sportspeople from across the Taupo district were nominated for awards last night representing a wide range of sports were including football, polocrosse, rockclimbing and netball.

“These awards give the community a chance to show our sportspeople their efforts have not gone unnoticed,” said Christine.

Winners are now considered for the 2009 Perry Foundation Waikato Regional Sports Awards on Thursday 10 December at Mystery Creek.

Service to Sport: Ian Duff

2009 winners:
Club of the Year: Taupo Motorcycle Club Inc
Administrator of the Year: Hamish Hey (Hockey, Sailing)
Sporting Personality of the Year: John McCartney (Football)
Referee Umpire: Shanelle Barrett (Triathlon)
Coach of the Year: Cameron Durno (Multisports)
Team of the Year: Tuwharetoa Junior Polocrosse Team
Junior Sportsman of the Year: Patrick Bevin (Cycling)
Junior Sportswoman of the Year: Shea Reardon (Triathlon/multisport)
Master Sportsperson of the Year: Neil Fleming (Triathlon)
Sportswoman of the Year: Savannah Larsen – Church (Polocrosse)
Sportsman of the Year: Jed Mildon (BMX Freestyle)
Premier Award: Shea Reardon (Triathlon/multisport)